Key Characteristics of a Medical Laboratory Professional

Medical laboratory professionals use their skills to find answers that help guide the diagnosis and treatment vital to patient care.

The medical laboratory profession may be right for you if you are:

Curious: you want to know why things are the way they are Fascinated: by science and the way the human body works Process-oriented: you understand the importance of following certain steps to arrive at a conclusion Accurate: you are careful and pay attention to details in your work Self-sufficient: you can rely on yourself to get a job done

Think About this:

There is a huge demand for medical laboratory professionals

You will enjoy a professional-level salary

You can live and work anywhere in Canada

You will keep learning, as technology and medical science is always changing

You will help doctors make important decisions about their patient’s treatment

You will use specialized, high-tech equipment

You will make a difference in the lives and health of others

You can work in:

private laboratories

hospitals

community health clinics

public health facilities

university research labs

biotechnology companies

specialty labs, e.g. in vitro fertilization labs

In each of these work settings, management positions are available. Some MLPs go into teaching and train the next generation while others become very involved in research and contribute to the worldwide advancement of medical and scientific knowledge.

Job prospects are excellent. Click here to visit Government of Canada's Job Futures for more information on salaries and employment forecasts.